TDAWG

The NBA has made it abundantly clear to both Seattle and Sacramento that if you do not have an "NBA-ready" facility, you will not have an NBA team and Stern had issues with Key Arena in this department. The Kings move north if, and only if, this latest proposal with the City of Sacramento falls through. And it only falls through if the Maloofs, who are more broke then the panhandler on the corner of 5th and Burnside, cannot pony up their portion of the arena cost ($85 million). As a sports commissioner, Stern needs to use his bully pulpit to remove financially deadbeat NBA owners which is exactly what the Maloofs are. Seriously, an NBA owner who cannot contribute $85 million towards a new arena, which is less than 25% of the total cost of the arena has NO business owning an NBA franchise. Sacto City Council is VOTING on a public financing plan in less than two weeks. Seattle is just beginning the process of forming committees. Seattle would need to do some serious catchup. The Hornets are likley going to be the team that moves to Seatle.

No question Seattle deserves to get the NBA back. However, I believe if they are pinning their hopes on the Sacramento Kings relocating up the road, they are misled. Sacramento is on the cusp of having City Council approval on a financing plan on February 28th. The Seattle group is at the formation of arena viability stage, which is probably about 12 to 18 months behind Sactown's efforts. I see the NBA owned New Orleans Hornets as the team that will likely move to Seattle. If Hansen can covince Stern that his plan is viable, and a Balmer or someone else can purchase the Hornets from the league, I see the NBA back in the Emerald city.